All News
Review: Grimoire Groves is a Cozy Rogue-Lite With a Few Thorns
Review: Grimoire Groves is a Cozy Rogue-Lite With a Few Thorns There’s never a dull moment when you’re playing a rogue-like (or rogue-lite) dungeon crawler. At least, there shouldn’t be. The genre is filled to the brim with nonstop action experiences you can gorge on, but stand-out offers available know how to contextualize your runs into meaningful, engaging stories or settings. Hades redefined what these kinds of games could be. While many chase this new standard with similarly grim settings or serious moods, Grimoire Groves is a refreshing change. It's a solid case for delivering the promises of this genre through a much wider range of aesthetics and storytelling. However, the blooming strength of its presentation sprouts more than a few thorns that make cultivating a wholesome experience a bit of a chore. Primrose is an upbeat and excitable witch-in-training. She has one more hurdle to cross before becoming a full-fledged sorceress: completing her apprenticeship with Lavender, an older, gentle witch who tends to her garden outside the eponymous Grimoire Groves. Upon arriving at the garden, Primrose notices its disarray. A quick trip into the forest itself reveals the Groves have been abandoned by the magical beings and special plants who used to live there. Lavender tasks Primrose with restoring the garden- and by extension the forest- to its former beauty. Bestowed with a magical watering can and a beginner level spell, Primrose must venture into the Grimoire Groves, use her plant-based magic to nurture the plant life back into the soil, and assist the residents of the forest with rebuilding their homes. Screenshot by Siliconera I’m a stickler for well-written, natural dialogue. When faced with a cutesy, high-energy title like Grimoire Groves , I always fear the writing is going to push it to the extreme. Situations where characters will be so impossibly sweet, or reactions intensely exaggerated, that it gives me second-hand embarrassment. I’m happy to say Grimoire Groves is remarkably even-handed in its approach. Primrose is bright and cheerful, and being easily excitable, can become equally frustrated or annoyed. Grimoire Groves is a vibrant explosion of color and adorable character designs, and balances this ambush of the senses with good comedic timing and a tinge of sarcasm. Primrose, Lavender, and the rest of the forest inhabitants had endeared me to the world I was exploring. Despite its disarming exterior Grimoire Groves wants you to focus on the action. It only takes about 15 minutes to introduce you to its premise, some basic controls, and how to equip spells. Afterwards, it expects you to explore and discover many of its little intricacies for yourself. All runs start with choosing a biome to start your dungeon crawl in. You defeat enemies who drop important resources, encounter NPCs who might want those materials, and (maybe) fight a boss. Eventually, you return to the garden and dump everything you’ve collected into new spells, plants, and various shrines in need of repair. There’s a wonderful combination of whimsy and pride watching the garden magically spring back to life. Every new budding plant magically whisks away weeds and bramble. Every structure repaired creates a relaxing centerpiece marking your progress. Screenshot by Siliconera Unfortunately, that presentation and explorative freedom can get tangled up into a confusing and, at times, plodding experience. Grimoire Groves is in 2.5D, so it uses 2D objects inside of 3D space. This allows for a distinct, pop-up book look, but creates issues during combat. The plant creatures you’re “helping” into the ground have varying shapes and sizes. When fighting large groups, smaller plants can be hidden behind bigger ones, making it difficult to react to their attacks. In addition, not all enemy attacks feature the warning indicators that appear when casting your spells or entering a plant’s aggro range. Paired with the sheer amount of environmental objects on-screen and the color palettes of Grimoire Groves ’ multiple biomes being similar to those of the plants, your overall visibility of what’s going on can become very poor. Screenshot by Siliconera Progression through Grimoire Groves’ central storyline adds a menial element to gameplay that left me a little lost on how to proceed. To unlock boss fights for each biome, you have to complete the NPC quest blocking access to its arena. This usually involves running through the forest to find specific plants, and harvesting resources from them. Finding enough materials in a single run to complete these quests isn’t necessarily a guarantee. What’s more, you can’t bring materials from previous runs into new ones. Not unless you use a specific machine that isn’t always accessible in the dungeon when you need it. The freedom to discover things on your own makes that early-game experience a bit frustrating. For instance, I made charms to raise max health or strengthen my spells, but had no idea how to equip them. It wasn’t until I finished building my first shrine that I learned shrines serve as equipment slots. This was after several hours of confusion and many failed runs, before I coincidentally built the shrine. Had I not run out of things to upgrade, it might've taken longer for me to find out. Expanding your abilities and discovering new features on your own is deeply exciting! Not so much when it causes you to miss integral features you’re expected to use in order to make progress. Screenshot by Siliconera Despite this, Grimoire Groves offers an overall satisfying gameplay experience. With only three spell slots and great diversity in the way spells interact with enemies, there are a ton of playstyles to develop. Although it takes a bit longer than I’d like to understand what I need to do to progress and how to do it, the cute character dialogue and expanding garden still gives me a sense of accomplishment once I do. Much like gardening, Grimoire Groves requires a little patience. But once you get past that initial struggle, it’s incredibly rewarding. Grimoire Groves is available now on Steam. The post Review: Grimoire Groves is a Cozy Rogue-Lite With a Few Thorns appeared first on Siliconera .
Mar 30
825 Forest Road Review – A Ghostly Misfire Lacking Scares and Originality
825 Forest Road Review – A Ghostly Misfire Lacking Scares and Originality From Stephen Cognetti — the writer and director of the celebrated Hell House LLC franchise — comes 825 Forest Road, a blundered attempt at traumacore horror that feels redundant, dull and unnecessary. There’s little about this new film that feels frightening and even less that feels original. If you’re hoping for the type of “bad […] This post belongs to FandomWire and first appeared on FandomWire
Mar 28
All Games Revealed in Japanese March 2025 Nintendo Direct
All Games Revealed in Japanese March 2025 Nintendo Direct Nintendo published a new Nintendo Direct in late March 2025 , and as with prior editions, the Japanese side of the program has several exclusive games not shown in the American and European Directs. However, a majority of those only appeared in the short montages, such as Winning Post 10 2025 and Tokimeki Memorial: Forever With You Emotional . The only Japan-exclusive game that had an extensive coverage in this Direct was Bandai Namco's Project:;COLD case.mirage . This title is best described as an investigative adventure game. The player will be tasked by the mysterious boy Iori Heartfield to investigate the truth behind the fire incident at the Mirage Forest cafe that killed five girls. The game will practically turn the Switch's monitor into a desktop PC OS, and the player will use programs inside the in-game PC to collect information. One of the game's highlights will be the Human Emulator program, where the player can interact with digitally constructed versions of the girls. Provisions of evidence that expose the girls' true selves will trigger a confrontational phase that can end in a BSOD game over screen when the player fails it. Nintendo and Bandai Namco launched this game immediately after the Direct show had ended. However, this game is exclusively available on the Japanese eShop with only Japanese language supported. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-CrElmjXQF0 Here is the complete list of games featured in the Japanese March 2025 Nintendo Direct with their Japanese release dates, sorted by order of appearance: All in Abyss: Judge the Fake - April 10, 2025 Capcom Fighting Collection 2 - May 16, 2025 Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake - 2025 Everybody's Golf World - 2025 Fantasy Life i - May 22, 2025 Gradius Origin Collection - August 7, 2025 Gundam SEED Battle Destiny Remastered - May 22, 2025 The Hundred Line: Last Defense Academy - April 24, 2025 Marvel Cosmic Invasion - Winter 2025 Metroid Prime 4 Beyond - 2025 No Sleep for Kaname Date - July 25, 2025 Onimusha 2 - May 23, 2025 Patapon 1+2 Replay - July 10, 2025 Pokemon Legends Z-A - Fall 2025 Project:;COLD case.mirage - Launches right after Direct Raidou Remastered: The Mystery of the Soulless Army - June 19, 2025 Rhythm Heaven: Groove - 2026 Rusty Rabbit - April 17, 2025 Sanrio Characters Miracle Match - March 27, 2025 SaGa Frontier 2 Remastered - Launches right after Direct Shadow Labyrinth - July 17, 2025 Star Overdrive - April 10, 2025 Story of Seasons: Grand Bazaar - August 28, 2025 Super Robot Wars Y - 2025 Tamagotchi Plaza - June 26, 2025 Technos The World: Kunio-Kun & Arcade Collection - April 24, 2025 Tokimeki Memorial: Forever With You Emotional - May 8, 2025 Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream - 2026 Winning Post 10 2025 - March 27, 2025 Witchbrook - Winter 2025 Ys: Memories of Celceta - May 22, 2025 Project:;COLD case.mirage , the game exclusively revealed at the Japanese March 2025 Nintendo Direct, is immediately available on Nintendo Switch in Japan. The post All Games Revealed in Japanese March 2025 Nintendo Direct appeared first on Siliconera .
Mar 27
Tales of Legendia Event Celebrates Its 20th Anniversary
Tales of Legendia Event Celebrates Its 20th Anniversary Bandai Namco announced that it will celebrate the 20th anniversary of the release of Tales of Legendia with a new event coming to Chiba, Japan on July 27, 2025. A new key visual for the event has been revealed, alongside some details describing how the company will honor the PS2 JRPG . So far only the venue of the event and some of the invited guests have been revealed. The venue is set as the Hall of the Forest 21 at Matsudo City in Chiba, Japan. Additionally, advance ticket sales for Asobi store premium members are now available until April 13, 2025. Tickets for the event cost 18,000 yen (~$119.65). At the time of writing, there is no information going over if new merchandise will appear at the event. More information and details will appear in the future. You can also check out the new key visual here. It features all of the heroes of the game. So in the back row, from left to right, we see Jay, Norma Beatty, and Will Raynard. The middle row features Moses Sandor, Shirley Fennes, and Grune. At the very front, we see Chloe Valens and Senel Coolidge. Image via Bandai Namco The Japanese voice actors for the main cast of Tales of Legendia will also appear as special guests, including protagonist Senel Coolidge voice actor Kenichi Suzumura, as well as Ryo Hirohashi who voices Shirley Fennes, Will Raynard's voice actor Susumu Chiba, Chloe Valens' VA Masumi Asano, Ryoko Shiraishi who voices Jay, Grune's VA Ayako Kawasumi, and Stella Telmes' voice actor Mie Sonozaki. The Tales of Legendia 20th Anniversary Party event will be held on July 27, 2025 in Chiba, Japan. The game originally came out for the PlayStation 2 on August 25, 2005 in Japan, and would later see its North American release date on February 7, 2006. The post Tales of Legendia Event Celebrates Its 20th Anniversary appeared first on Siliconera .
Mar 26
Monster Hunter Wilds Title Update 1 Adds A Grand Hub, Mizutsune, And More
Monster Hunter Wilds Title Update 1 Adds A Grand Hub, Mizutsune, And More Monster Hunter Wilds is great, but fans of the series know that the games are about much more than their initial releases. Yesterday's Monster Hunter Wilds Showcase proved exactly that, giving us a clear look at the first major update while planting seeds for future events. The update in question, known as Title Update 1, will be free to download on Friday, April 4, and brings a variety of new content to the game. For starters, it ushers the return of Mizutsune, a Leviathan with bubble-based abilities that last appeared in Monster Hunter Rise. After players reach HR 21, they'll be able to unlock the new monster with a quest from Kanya in the Scarlet Forest. After reaching HR 50, Hunters playing Title Update 1 will also be able to encounter Arch Tempered Rey Dau and Zoh Shia, which can provide new armor sets to be crafted and equipped. A trio of new quest types is also coming to Wilds. Arena, Challenge, and Free Challenge quests each task the player with defeating certain monsters within a time limit. While Arena and Challenge quests limit your gear and cap your party at two players, Free Challenge quests are open to a full party using whatever armor and weapons they like. Perform well enough, and you'll end up on the Expedition Record Board, which awards high-scoring hunters with unique weapon charms. A new gathering point called the Grand Hub also comes with Title Update 1, adding a large common area (like those found in many prior games in the series) where players can gather, play minigames, and prepare for hunts. You can share one of the series' notoriously mouthwatering meals with your party, catch fish, or go bowling with large explosive barrels. The Grand Hub will also host the Festival of Accord: Blossomdance from April 23 to May 7, adding unique meals, limited-time equipment, cosmetics, and more. It will be the first of many seasonal festivals. Additionally, April 4 is the day Cosmetic DLC Pack 1 will be available for download, adding new gestures, cosmetic armor, and character customization options. It's included in the Cosmetic DLC Pass but can also be purchased separately. The store will also get new paid cosmetics not included in the DLC pass. Additionally, free cosmetics will be added for all players, like a new outfit for Alma and a set of classic gestures.  Title Update 1 comes to Monster Hunter Wilds on April 4. Capcom also hinted that the game would receive another update in late May, and a full title update later this summer. For more Monster Hunter Wilds, you can check out our review , where we said, "Once you get your bearings, Monster Hunter Wilds is a delight, bringing Monster Hunter World's carefully crafted gameplay loop to the next level."
Mar 26
Drive Beyond Horizons Free Download (Build 911)
Drive Beyond Horizons Free Download (Build 911)Drive Beyond Horizons Direct Download: Embark on an epic journey of exploration and adventure in Drive Beyond Horizons! Roam through expansive, procedurally generated landscapes in your customizable vehicle, from vast deserts to lush forests. Experience the thrill of discovery as you uncover hidden secrets and face unique challenges along the way. With stunning visuals, dynamic […] The post Drive Beyond Horizons Free Download (Build 911) first appeared on WorldofPCGames .
Mar 26
Monster Hunter Wilds First Free Update Release Date Set
Monster Hunter Wilds First Free Update Release Date Set Capcom has announced that the first free title update for Monster Hunter Wilds will release on April 4, 2025. The update will let players fight Mizutsune and Zoh Shia in the latest entry in the series , as well as a new hub area and various free cosmetics. The announcement was made during a Youtube livestream showcasing the other features of the update. The ability to hunt the Mizutsune, as well as craft its associated weapons and armor, will appear after reaching Hunter Rank 21 and talking to Kanya in the Scarlet Forest base camp. Players who reach at least HR 50 will also be able to hunt Zoh Shia again and craft its weapons. They will also be able to take on a new Arch-Tempered Rey Dau, once it is added at the end of April 2025. A new gathering hub will also be available called the Grand Hub, which features a Barrel Bowling minigame, a Wyverian performance, and Seasonal Events such as the Blossomdance. That first Seasonal Event is set to begin on April 22, 2025. Another title update is also planned for Summer 2025, with a stinger teasing the return of the fan-favorite Lagiacrus from Monster Hunter Tri/3u . You can watch the showcase stream yourself via Youtube below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YZoCy3F4J_A Capcom announced the showcase earlier in March 2025 alongside a brief announcement trailer. Meanwhile in Japan, Capcom Cafes in Tokyo and Osaka are set to serve up a new Monster Hunter -themed menu over March and April 2025. The first free title update for Monster Hunter Wilds is schedule to release on April 4, 2025. The game itself is readily available on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S. The post Monster Hunter Wilds First Free Update Release Date Set appeared first on Siliconera .
Mar 25
Forestrike Hands-on Preview – Fists of fury
Forestrike Hands-on Preview – Fists of furyThe post Forestrike Hands-on Preview – Fists of fury appeared first on Checkpoint .
Mar 24
Forestrike Demands Absolute, Unconditional Kung Fu Pixel-Art Perfection – Hands-on Preview
Forestrike Demands Absolute, Unconditional Kung Fu Pixel-Art Perfection – Hands-on PreviewDespite being squarely centered on martial arts mastery, Forestrike is a pixel-art 2D roguelike that has more in common with a chess match than an action game, as you repeat encounters until you’ve perfected them in one of the most satisfying, unique, and immediately compelling brawlers we’ve played in a very long time.
Mar 24
How to craft all Ammo in Monster Hunter Wilds
How to craft all Ammo in Monster Hunter Wilds A Bowgun without its ammo is just a hunk of junk in Monster Hunter Wilds . You'll want to make sure your Bowgun is fully loaded at all times, so here's how to craft all Ammo types in the game. How to make all Bowgun Ammo types in Monster Hunter Wilds There are many different Ammo types in Monster Hunter Wilds , and all of them serve a purpose, whether obvious or not. All Ammo is crafted using the Crafting List and is typically the result of two different materials, though this is not always the case. Here is a reference on how you can make all the ammo, and what they actually do once you fire it via your trusty Bowgun. Table of contents How to make all Bowgun Ammo types in Monster Hunter Wilds Tranq Ammo Sticky Ammo Cluster Bomb Slicing Ammo Flaming Ammo Water Ammo Thunder Ammo Freeze Ammo Dragon Ammo Poison Ammo Paralysis Ammo Sleep Ammo Exhaust Ammo Recover Ammo Armor Ammo Demon Ammo Wyvern Ammo Tranq Ammo Screenshot by Destructoid Tranq Ammo is the result of combining Normal Ammo with Tranq Bombs . As the name of the ammo implies, this ammo type is designed to put a monster to sleep after being caught in a trap. Basically, this is an alternative way to utilize Tranq Bombs if you don't fancy getting close to a monster, even if it's trapped. If you're using a Bowgun, though, you should be using this ammo type instead of getting up close and personal anyway. Sticky Ammo Screenshot by Destructoid Sticky Ammo can be made in two different ways. The easiest way is to use Blastnut , which can be found as plants you can harvest in various locations on the World Map. One Blast Nut is equal to one Sticky Ammo craft, so make sure you have a bunch if you're planning to mass-craft it this way. The other method of crafting Sticky Ammo is to utilize fishing! By combining Normal Ammo with a Bomb Arowana Scale , you can also craft Sticky Ammo. Fishing is already profitable, thanks to the various other benefits it offers, so getting the ability to craft Sticky Ammo through it is a very nice bonus. Now, what does Sticky Ammo do? Sticky Ammo allows you to shoot monsters with miniature explosives that stick to them. After a few seconds, the Sticky round will explode, dealing damage. Most importantly, when a Sticky round explodes on or near the head of a monster, it inflicts Stun damage, meaning with enough Sticky explosions around the head, you can actually stun a monster with it. This is quite useful for Bowguns, and is the only means for a Bowgun to inflict Stun in any meaningful capacity. Cluster Bomb Screenshot by Destructoid Cluster Bomb ammo is the result of crafting using Bomberry , which is a plant that can be found throughout various regions on the World Map. Don't worry. It appears on your map like other harvestable resources, so it isn't difficult to find. Cluster Bomb ammo is typically fired from Heavy Bowguns, and delivers a powerful group of explosive shells when launched. These explosions deal considerable damage, especially when a set of Cluster Bombs hit one target. Beware the non-obvious threat of friendly fire with this ammo type. While Cluster explosions won't deal damage to your teammates, they will knock them around like ragdolls, which I assure you will be a problem. Slicing Ammo Screenshot by Destructoid Slicing Ammo is the result of crafting using Slashberry, another planet that can be easily found throughout various regions on the World Map. They appear on your normal map, so you shouldn't have any issue finding them. Slicing Ammo can also be crafted utilizing fishing as a benefit. By combining Normal Ammo with a Burst Arowana Scale , you will also obtain Slicing Ammo, once more making fishing quite useful. Slicing Ammo releases a volley of razor-sharp blades upon impact that embed into the monster and shred its flesh. While it deals a reasonable amount of damage on its own, its true strength lies in its ability to sever specific monster parts , such as tails, making it a valuable tool in any Bowgun user's arsenal. Flaming Ammo Screenshot by Destructoid Flaming Ammo is the result of combining Normal Ammo with Fire Herb , an elemental plant that is most commonly found in areas where fire is constant but can be found everywhere if you look hard enough. This makes the Oilwell Basin a solid place to find this herb. It can be harvested like any other harvestable you can find on your map. When Flaming Ammo is fired, it does around the same amount of damage as Normal Ammo. However, when hitting monsters weak to the Fire element, it does significantly more. Against Fire-weak enemies, Flaming Ammo should be your go every time before falling back on more standard ammo types. I highly recommend always putting Fire Herb in your Item Pouch so that you can craft more Flaming Ammo on the fly instead of having to return to camp when you run out. Water Ammo Screenshot by Destructoid Water Ammo is the final result when combining Normal Ammo with Flowfern , a water-elemental plant that is commonly found in areas with lots of water. This makes locations like the Scarlet Forest a solid place to look for this herb, though it can be found in various other locations as well. Like previous herbs on this list, it is harvestable and appears on your standard map as such. Water Ammo functions identically to Fire Ammo (and other elemental ammo on this list). Against non-Water weak enemies, it deals damage similar to your standard ammo. However, against enemies with a weakness to the Water element, it does considerably more and should be your go-to every time. Always have extra Flowfern in your Item Pouch , so you can craft more Water Ammo when you run out instead of wasting time by retreating to camp for more. Thunder Ammo Screenshot by Destructoid Thunder Ammo is the end result of combining Normal Ammo with a Thunderbug Capacitor. Unlike the other Ammo, Thunderbug Capacitor does not come from a plant. Instead, it comes directly from the Thunderbug, which is a yellow, bright beetle-like insect that can be harvested and appears as such on your map. Thunderbugs can be found in every explorable region, making them common and easy to find. Finally, when you obtain a Thunderbug, its Thunderbug Capacitor will automatically be harvested for use. As with the other elemental ammo, Thunder Ammo does standard levels of damage to enemies not weak to the Thunder element. However, it packs a serious punch against monsters with a critical weakness to Thunder, making it the ideal to use against them. Thunderbug Capacitors are used to make Flash Pods and Thunder Ammo , so you want to make sure you always have some in your Item Pouch so you can always make more of both, as needed. Freeze Ammo Screenshot by Destructoid Freeze Ammo is the final result of combining Normal Ammo with Snow Herb , a herb that is most commonly found in cold, icy locations, thus making the Iceshard Cliffs the ideal location to find some. It is harvestable, so it appears on your map and is easy to locate at any given moment. At this point, you might be noticing a trend. Freeze Ammo, when it hits a monster not weak to the Ice element, it will deal standard amounts of damage. However, if used against enemies susceptible to Ice, it will dish out considerably more, undoubtedly speeding up your hunt. For this reason, if you're hunting something weak to the Ice element, always carry additional Snow Herb in your Item Pouch , so you can craft more on the fly when you eventually run out. Dragon Ammo Screenshot by Destructoid Dragon Ammo is crafted when by combining Normal Ammo with Dragonfell Berry , a common herb found in practically every region on the World Map. It is another harvestable herb, so you can find it easily by checking the local map of any of the regions. Like with all previous elemental ammo, Dragon Ammo deals very standard amounts of damage to enemies that aren't weak to Dragon. However, the moment a Dragon round hits an enemy susceptible to Dragon, it will put them in a world of hurt. In this scenario, Dragon Ammo should be your go-to. Be sure to keep extra Dragonfell Berry in your Item Pouch if you know you're hunting a monster with a serious weakness to Dragon, so you never need to retreat to camp for more. Poison Ammo Screenshot by Destructoid Poison Ammo is crafted when you combine Normal Ammo with Toadstool , a Poison-themed herb that is harvested and easy to find in practically every region. However, regions with more 'life' tend to yield more, so the Scarlet Forest is a good place to search for it. Poison Ammo inflicts the Poison Status on monsters hit with it, causing them to lose a percentage of their maximum health every second. Depending on the monster, you may need to hit them several times with Poison Ammo for the status effect to kick in. Additionally, when a monster is poisoned once, it will become much more difficult to poison it again. This will continue until their threshold for the Poison status becomes so high that it is impossible to poison them. However, by the time this happens, the monster will probably already be on its deathbed. Paralysis Ammo Screenshot by Destructoid Paralysis Ammo is what you get when you combine Normal Ammo with Parashroom , a common herb found in most regions on the World Map. It is harvestable, so it appears on your local map, making it easy to find at any given moment. Paralysis Ammo inflicts the Paralysis Status on monsters hit with it, causing them to stuck in place, unable to move or defend themselves. It is useful for stopping monsters in their tracks and opening up a window to dish out damage without fear of retaliation from it. Like with all Statuses in Monster Hunter Wilds , once a monster has been Paralyzed once, follow-up applications become much more difficult to inflict, thanks to the monster's increasing tolerance to it. Sleep Ammo Screenshot by Destructoid Sleep Ammo is what you'll craft if you combine Normal Ammo with Sleep Herb , a herb that is commonly found in every region on the World Map. It is harvestable, so it's easy to find by checking the local map of any given region. As the ammo's name implies, Sleep Ammo inflicts the Sleep Status when a monster is hit enough with it, putting them to sleep. Sleeping monsters are completely helpless and cannot defend themselves, much like with Paralysis. However, a sleeping monster will wake up on the next hit, granting that hit a massive damage multiplier. This is extremely useful if you want to dish out some serious burst damage to a monster all at once. What's important here, though, is to ensure you use a really powerful attack to wake up a monster so you can gain the main benefit of the Sleep status. Once a monster has been put to sleep once, follow-up applications become much more difficult to inflict, thanks to the monster's increasing tolerance to it. You'd be lucky to get more than two Sleep statuses off in a single hunt, so keep this in mind when deciding to pull out this ammo. Exhaust Ammo Screenshot by Destructoid Exhaust Ammo is crafted when you combine Normal Ammo with Exciteshroom , another common herb that is found in various amounts in every region on the World Map. It is harvestable, so it is easy to locate at any given moment by just checking the local map for a region. Exhaust Ammo drains the stamina of a monster when they are hit by it several times. Monsters with little to no stamina move and act slowly, allowing you more opportunities to dish out more damage. You'll know a monster is exhausted if they are drooling from its mouth. Some monsters don't have a mouth, so it may not be as obvious. However, if the monster is moving notably slower than normal, it is exhausted. While not exactly a status effect, Exhaust is affected by overapplication, meaning that once a monster has been exhausted once, it will be more difficult to exhaust it again. Recover Ammo Screenshot by Destructoid Recovery Ammo is the result of combining Normal Ammo with Blue Mushroom , one of the most common herbs in Monster Hunter Wilds . Blue Mushroom is literally everywhere and is harvestable, meaning it will also appear on the local map of any region. Recovery Ammo deploys a green cloud of healing mist when it hits a surface, allowing you and your allies to recover health as long as they remain in it. This is a useful ammo type for supporting your team with a constant source of healing during more difficult hunts. You can only carry three rounds of Recovery Ammo in your Ammo Pouch , so make sure you put Blue Mushroom in your Item Pouch to ensure you can make more on the fly. Armor Ammo Screenshot by Destructoid Armor Ammo is the result of combining Normal Ammo with Adamant Seed , a special seed that has defensive properties. Unlike every other harvestable on this list, Adamant Seed is not the most common you can run across. As such, you can find Adamant Seed in locations like the Iceshard Cliffs . They appear as orange seeds on your local map. Armor Ammo will deploy an orange cloud of mist that will increase the Defense of anyone who steps into it, yourself included. This support ammo grants the same defensive boost as an Armorskin consumable, reinforcing defense against incoming attacks that connect. You can only carry three rounds of Armor Ammo in your Ammo Pouch , so if you intend to continue supporting with defensive buffs, make sure you carry additional Adament Seeds in your Item Pouch so you can make more as needed. Demon Ammo Screenshot by Destructoid Demon Ammo is the result of combining Normal Ammo with Might Seed, a special seed that has offensive properties. Like Adamant Seed, Might Seed is not a very common harvestable to run across. You'll need to actively look for i. The best place to search for Might Seed is the Ruins of Wyveria . They appear as red seeds on your local map. Demon Ammo deploys a cloud of red mist in an area that will increase the Attack of anyone who steps into it, yourself included. This support ammo grants a similar Attack boost as a Demondrug consumable, boosting the amount of damage dealt with any given attack. Like with Armor Ammo, you can only carry three rounds of Demon Ammo at any given time, so if you want to keep buffing your allies with increased damage, ensure you're carrying extra Might Seeds in your Item Pouch . Wyvern Ammo Screenshot by Destructoid Wyvern Ammo is the result of crafting using solely Dragonstrike Nut , a fairly common harvest that is found in most regions on the World Map. It is a harvestable that can be found in all major regions on the World Map and is easily identifiable on the local map of any given region. Wyvern Ammo is ammo that, when fired, does a massive amount of damage at a short range. The explosion can knock away allies, but this is unlikely to ever occur due to its short range. The post How to craft all Ammo in Monster Hunter Wilds appeared first on Destructoid .
Mar 24
Assassin's Creed Shadows Review – Don’t Stop Me Naoe (Because I’m Having A Good Time)
Assassin's Creed Shadows Review – Don’t Stop Me Naoe (Because I’m Having A Good Time) Reviewed on: PlayStation 5 Platform: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC, Mac Publisher: Ubisoft Developer: Ubisoft Quebec Release: March 20, 2025 Booting up Assassin's Creed Shadows for the first time felt surreal. I was looking at a samurai and a shinobi on the start screen of an Assassin's Creed game. The series had finally made it to feudal Japan. As a longtime fan, though, I was nervous the actual game wouldn't match the heights of the Japan-set Assassin's Creed my imagination had cultivated over the past decade. After more than 55 hours in the feudal Azuchi-Momoyama era, I'm left somewhat conflicted about this long-awaited adventure. Its greatest strengths lie in its fusing of samurai and shinobi action to create the ultimate Assassin's Creed gameplay experience. Its story is a letdown, however, not because it's bad but because it's simply satisfactory, lacking the twists, emotion, and (shrinking) sci-fi fusion I've loved so much in this series' past. Still, it's easier to forgive the by-the-numbers story when the gameplay is this fun and fresh.  Slow, deliberate, measured, even leisurely – all words I'd use to describe Shadows. Matching the tone and meditation of the cast of historical figures and analogs during this era of Japan, Shadows doesn't rush anything. That goes for its gameplay, which frees players to tackle objectives how they'd like in various ways, and its story, which bubbles to the surface slowly as our dual protagonists learn more about this land. Its most fiery moments take place at the start, where we learn about Yasuke's transition from Portuguese-owned warrior-slave to Oda Nobunaga's best samurai, who then goes on to lead the charge of conquering the Iga region that Naoe calls home. If you've played an Assassin's Creed game before, you can probably guess Naoe's story and journey into becoming an Assassin, although I can't emphasize enough how much the overarching Assassins versus Templar elements of this series are placed on the back burner in Shadows.  After a tragic loss, Naoe begins a journey of revenge and retribution, paralleling Yasuke's quest for the same. Neither protagonist's story kept me on my toes and I was usually able to predict where it'd take me next. But, using the "Immersive Mode" that features variable voice acting to match the moments – Yasuke speaks Japanese to Japanese speakers and Portuguese to Portuguese speakers, for example – I came to love the performances of these characters. Yasuke's stoicism contrasts nicely with the explosive and brutal actions he'll complete across this adventure, while Naoe's burning personality intersects with her calm and collected shinobi way of life. Their stories weren't the most exciting, but watching them interact with the world and the people of it was a treat unto itself. I just wish they had more to work with in the narrative.  Similar to the series' larger open-world RPG entries such as Assassin's Creed Valhalla and Assassin's Creed Odyssey, it's not long before an objective board fills up with numerous targets. In no time at all, this small board will triple in size as more are added, including the Shinbakufu, the main antagonist group. These masked figures are responsible for the tragedy and treachery that kickstarts Naoe and Yasuke's journey, and you spend most of Shadows' run time engaging in quest-focused investigations to learn the identity of each. For the most part, doing so will consist of speaking to someone, invading a hideout or castle, collecting some information, and rinsing and repeating until you have the name you need. Then, you'll be tasked with assassinating that person. It's largely bland in setup and remains so through to the credits, yet I was never bored with the tasks before me because of how fun taking part in each was.  Once Shadows opens up after a lengthy Act 1 largely focused on Naoe, you're free to select her or Yasuke to complete the majority of objectives. It was refreshing to switch the gameplay on a whim, deciding when and how to complete assassinations, and Shadows is impressively built to cater to both protagonists equally. Every castle and camp features enough wide open space to obliterate enemies with my favorite Yasuke weapon, the Tanto (i.e. a giant club), and foliage and high spaces to sneak around in the shadows as Naoe. I rarely felt at a disadvantage playing as one or the other, relying on my mood to determine how to approach situations. As Naoe, I might climb around a wooden door and up a castle's many levels to quietly reach my target on the top floor. As Yasuke, I'd barrel through the door, destroying it on impact, and massacre my way through each floor in a Raid -style fight to the top. AC's best in-your-face action can be found in Shadows, as can its best stealth combat. The moment-to-moment gameplay is always exciting thanks to a great curation of era-specific weapons, visually explosive abilities that turn the tides of fights, and devastating combo finishers. Shadows features a rewarding but punishing combat system reliant on parries and sharp attention to enemy actions, and though it makes for the most difficult AC yet, it's the first time in this era of the series that combat has felt this refined. Simply put, I always felt like a badass, but I always had to earn it.  The progression system surrounding combat is one of worthwhile investment, too, thanks to the aforementioned abilities you unlock with Mastery Points and the ways it lets you craft a build specific to your preferred weapon and playstyle. I suspect it will be a contentious aspect of progression, but I liked that to unlock additional tiers of abilities, you have to level up your Knowledge Rank by completing other in-world activities. It creates a breezy loop of exploration and combat that feels satisfyingly subconscious after a few hours, and it mashes well with the constant influx of gear and weaponry that features unique perks, afflictions, and more.  Outside of combat, Shadows is a feast for the senses. Capturing the temperamental weather of Japan, changing seasons bring about new scenery every couple of hours. Naoe struggles to run in the deep snow of Winter, while the rising sun blinds the landscape in the Summer. Autumnal forests come alive with bright oranges as the wind breathes through the leaves, and naturally, Spring brings about gorgeous Sakura that blankets the paths of towns and villages. Crickets and frogs pierce through the serenity of a lakeside coast while falling leaves and windy storms accompany the most beautiful scenery in any AC game ever. On PlayStation 5 Pro, I was constantly stunned by how great everything looked, especially the light peering through towering trees everywhere I went.  Going a step further, the Hideout fuses progression and customization with the game's standout art to allow players to create their own personal Japanese garden. By collecting resources out in the world, you can build additional facilities to help you on your journey and customize the surrounding scenery with things like statues, pets, trees, and more. Though I didn't dabble much with it beyond the practical builds that advanced Yasuke and Naoe's progression, fans of the game's Japanese aesthetic will find plenty to indulge in at the Hideout.    Because of Japan's mountainous foliage, Shadows feels more linear in exploration than its RPG contemporaries. Sure, you can try to climb mountains but it's a struggle; instead, Shadows urges you to follow the natural and manmade pathways to discover new shrines, villages, and more. Like the rest of the gameplay experience, exploration feels heavily curated to ensure you are heading in the right direction. And though I was rarely surprised by what I'd stumble upon, I never tired of finding lost scrolls in a temple, praying at a shrine, or climbing to yet another viewpoint. They c ould become stale, and perhaps they will as I trek through all the side content left in the game, but moving around in Shadows, existing in this world, is so enjoyable I doubt it will. I am disappointed in how little sci-fi and Templar/Assassin conflict is in Shadows, although I recognize I might be expecting too much from a series that has signaled it's doing its best to let those aspects of the franchise fade away. I simply wanted more. The sci-fi modern-day elements are relegated to the new but poorly implemented Animus system, and it basically amounts to free gear you can earn by completing random objectives in the game (though there are microtransactions for cosmetics and map unlocks like usual, you can't accelerate these reward tiers with real money). It's not terrible – neat gear you can unlock for free is nice, after all – but it feels strangely unattached to the rest of the game, even as you unlock additional modern-day vignettes. And the Templar/Assassin conflict doesn't rear its head until the final hours, and it mostly lands flat. I understand the appeal of this series is the fantasy its historical era provides, but Ubisoft has forgotten about me, the longtime fan, and what made the series' intersection between history and fantasy so thrilling in the first place. Despite feeling little when the credits began to roll in Shadows, I am excited to get back to it. Where its story leaves me wanting more, the gameplay picks up the slack and then some. It is the ultimate shinobi experience and though there might be one better game out there when it comes to playing as a samurai, controlling Yasuke is still a bloody blast.  As a day-one fan, every Assassin's Creed game has meant something to me. Ezio's trilogy is an all-consuming conspiracy through my favorite period of world history; Edward's journey is the best pirate game out there; Bayek's story is one of loss and love I won't forget; and Kassandra, well, who can forget Kassandra? Shadows, like its predecessors, has now yielded its own memory for me to store in my personal Animus: a reminder that when it comes to this medium, gameplay is king. In Shadows, playing as Yasuke and Naoe is as powerful as the Shoguns that ruled during this era of Japan. Score: 8.5 About Game Informer's review system
Mar 24
Wanderstop Review - Cozy With Purpose
Wanderstop Review - Cozy With Purpose Reviewed on: Xbox Series X/S, PC Platform: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC Publisher: Annapurna Interactive Developer: Ivy Road Release: March 11, 2025 Digging into the memory banks of my game-playing career, I don’t know that I have ever felt so directly called out by a video game. I am not a successful fighter like protagonist Alta, nor do I have her personally destructive focus on success at all costs. But I know exactly how she feels, both as a generally anxious person who doesn’t truly know how to relax and as a gamer who doesn’t like cozy games who suddenly found themselves inside one. Wanderstop has technical shortcomings that sometimes distract from the larger experience, but as an introspective examination on the nature of drive through the lens of a video game, it takes excellent advantage of the medium. Alta’s experience is one worth seeing through – even if you’re not interested in working at a tea shop. Wanderstop comes from the minds behind The Stanley Parable and The Beginner’s Guide. That legacy belies some kind of twist, but Wanderstop is exactly what it has always claimed to be: a story about a warrior trying to build a new type of life. Alta was an undefeated fighter, but after unexpected failures, she gets lost in a forest on the way to train with a master and ends up at a mysterious tea shop. She’s not a prisoner there, but she feels like one as she tries to fill her time with anything to get her back on track. Joining Alta alongside this journey of self-discovery is where Wanderstop shines and I enjoyed all the writing, as it was often as humorous as it was melancholy. The process of making tea involves growing plants and manipulating a gigantic whimsical machine that serves as the centerpiece of the teashop. Wanderstop is not a farming sim. Growing plants is a matter of foraging and solving simple pattern puzzles, and I appreciate that approach. Rather than maintaining a small garden and hoping you have what the clientele wants, every request sets you on a small mission to grow and collect. It makes the relationships with each customer feel specific and unique. I was always excited when a new person came to the shop and eager to learn what they wanted and if I could make it. And the smart trick of the game is seeing Alta slowly adopt that same sentiment as the story progresses. I occasionally struggled with the technical process of pocketing fruit and seeds and manipulating the tea machine. Wanderstop doesn’t feel great to play, and I did hit at least one game-breaking bug (which has hopefully been addressed by the time you’re reading this), but to its credit, its focus is on the writing, and it’s easy to access and engage with that part of the game.   Initially, Alta is anxious and unsure what to do with herself, and I felt exactly the same way. My action gamer brain quickly completed every task placed in front of me, and when I asked the shop’s owner, Boro, what to do next, he politely said, whatever you want. It was a moment that connected me directly to Alta and made me reexamine my emotional approach to playing Wanderstop – an impressive feat for a video game about mixing fruit and tea leaves in boiling water. Wanderstop does not emulate the same fourth-wall breaking revelations of developer Ivy Roads’ previous work, but what’s impressive about it all is that’s sort of what Alta’s adventure is about. I admire the game for being able to use video game genre conventions to tell a pensive, funny, and surprising story set in a charming location with enjoyable characters. Watching Alta grow and accept her limitations will stick with me and make me reflect on my own inability to turn off and just relax. I appreciate any art that makes you think in that way, and Wanderstop is successful in that goal. This 2025 review reflects our thoughts on the game’s current state at publishing. As such, post-launch updates were factored into the final score. Score: 8 About Game Informer's review system
Mar 24
Ender Magnolia: Bloom in the Mist Review – Hitting Harder Than Before
Ender Magnolia: Bloom in the Mist Review – Hitting Harder Than Before Reviewed on: PC Platform: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Switch, PC Publisher: Binary Haze Interactive Developer: Live Wire Release: January 22, 2025 Although it doesn’t reinvent the Metroidvania wheel, Ender Magnolia: Bloom in the Mist successfully builds upon its predecessor, Ender Lilies: Quietus of the Knights, to create a potent follow-up. The action packs more punch, the customization allows for deeper strategy, and the world is arguably better looking. While it lacks some quality-of-life innovations from more recent contemporaries, series fans and genre enthusiasts have another solid option to scratch the action platformer itch. Set long after the events of Ender Lilies, Ender Magnolia differentiates itself by blending a cool industrial aesthetic with its magical fantasy. As Lilac, a gifted and amnesiac boy, you’ll partner with homunculi (artificial lifeforms) to fight your way up a collapsed kingdom, from its slums to the top of its societal hierarchy. Ender Magnolia’s lore is more intriguing than its plot. I enjoyed soaking in contextual notes and chatting with my homunculi partners – including a mysterious masked swordswoman and former aristocrat trapped in the body of a spider – more than the story itself. While the quest to regain your memories while sparing the world from a magical affliction is serviceable, it doesn’t help that seeing its true ending (after you’ll likely first encounter the false “bad” conclusion) requires completing an involved and annoying vague series of steps.   As with Lily in the last game, Lilac doesn’t get his hands dirty in battle (he is a child, after all). Instead, he lets his homunculi party handle the fighting for him. My favorites include fellow amnesiac, Nola, who executes slick melee attacks, and a shy masked warrior who pummels foes with his giant mechanical fist. Some homunculi attack autonomously, like a throne-bound little girl who pulsates damaging shockwaves wherever she’s placed. Other homunculi bestow exploration skills such as climbing walls and shooting a web line to zip up designated perches. Though I used some homunculi more than others, this was usually by preference. They’re all useful in their unique ways, and trying different combinations yields fun synergies.   Homunculi also have two or three attack variants. For example, Nola can wield a sword, scythe, or axe, and each weapon behaves differently and has unique stats. Luka’s fiery punch can knock back foes in a straight line, but I also like his jumping downward punch that encases targets in ice, especially those below me. This freeform approach to combat extends to how you assign up to four homunculi to a dedicated button; the most ergonomic layout means comfortably executing multiple attacks at once. Mapping a gun-toting homunculi’s ranged pistol attack to a shoulder button kept a face button free to unleash melee attacks simultaneously; I enjoyed optimizing this multitasking. Tack on the aforementioned auto-attacking homunculi, and the combat sings when I unleash the full brunt of my party to shatter enemy defenses and finish them off.     Equipping Lilac with a limited number of stat-buffing relics, clothing, and accessories means you can create many specialized builds. You can focus on passively regaining HP, maximize the amount of currency/upgrade resources, or build around inflicting punishment through status effects. I never settled into a comfort zone with my loadout; whenever I hit a tough enemy, of which there are many, a trip to a save room to reconfigure my loadout usually solved the problem.  Ender Magnolia’s massive, sprawling map begins feeling tiresome towards the back half. It also isn’t always clear where the main objective lies. You can deeply traverse multiple areas from the start, making it easy to lose the thread on the task at hand. This became frustrating when I wanted to focus on the critical path because I wasn’t always sure I was going the right way. I’m also disappointed the map only includes barebones markers that look the same, so you still have to remember what you’re denoting. Considering some tasks require you to revisit certain characters, some of which move around, keeping everything straight feels more troublesome than necessary (especially after Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown’s fantastic screenshot feature). At least the sights along the way look like a video game art book come to life, boasting beautiful 2D visuals and striking locales like an underground laboratory, an enchanting crimson forest, and an opulent magic academy.  Ender Magnolia is a solid sophomore effort for this series, and while the exploration is protracted and occasionally confusing, the combat steps up its game in a big way. While not a gigantic leap forward, chalk up another good outing in this hidden gem of a Metroidvania series.  This 2025 review reflects our thoughts on the game’s current state at publishing. As such, post-launch updates were factored into the final score. Score: 8.25 About Game Informer's review system
Mar 24
Neva Review – A Memorable Tale Of A Woman And Her Dog
Neva Review – A Memorable Tale Of A Woman And Her Dog Reviewed on: PC Platform: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch, PC Publisher: Devolver Digital Developer: Nomada Studio Release: October 15, 2024 Neva begins on a heartbreaking note, with a young swordswoman and her antlered wolf pup suffering the devastating loss of a loved one. Grief catalyzes a blossoming partnership between the pair, spurring them in their mission to spare a dying world from the same fate. Watching them grow closer throughout four tumultuous seasons is an emotional treat, a relationship that anchors this exceptional action platformer. Like developer Nomada Studio’s previous game, Gris, Neva’s incredible art direction is a visual delight. Not only is the adventure beautifully illustrated, with bold colors and lineless art giving the models a distinct appearance, but fantastically fluid animation means the journey looks even better in motion. I can’t decide if Neva would be more at home at an indie film festival or on TV earning acclaim as a Cartoon Network series à la Samurai Jack. The vividly colorful forests make the encroaching blackness of a corrupting masked entity feel all the more jarring and threatening. But even this scourge is portrayed beautifully, with infected carcasses sprouting ashen flowers to create a haunting yet alluring sight. A stellar soundtrack pulls at the heartstrings as much as the narrative’s affecting themes of companionship, parenthood, death, and rebirth.  Throughout the game’s four chapters, I grew to love Neva (the wolf) and Alba (the woman) through their small but effective interactions. Simply calling Neva’s name, the game’s only spoken dialogue, resonates when laced with contextual nuances such as distress when Neva’s in danger, sternness when she misbehaves, or pride when she performs well. Petting Neva strengthens this attachment; I love giving a rewarding rubdown after a good fight or hugging her when she’s frightened.  These interactions work because Neva behaves like a real dog whose behavior evolves and matures over time. As a puppy, Neva will often stop to play with random flowers or chase leaves floating in the wind while being skittish around enemies. As Neva grows older – and much, much larger – her demeanor becomes more confident, her body language more dignified, and she’s more focused and aggressive toward threats. This growth effectively sells the passage of time, and one of the game’s strengths is making me feel like a proud parent who’s managed to raise a capable creature in an increasingly hostile world.  Gameplay-wise, it’s rewarding to watch Neva become less of a child to babysit and more of a partner in battle. In her teenage period, she’ll often engage foes unprompted, sometimes before I reach them, making her a helpful, if impulsive, teammate. Neva will even pin down certain foes, giving me a free window to finish them off. Neva gradually gains new abilities performed on command, adding another strategic layer to combat while narratively showcasing her growing discipline and synergy with Alba. Aiming and firing Neva like a furry missile at distant targets is equal parts cool and absurd, and you can even mount her once she’s big enough.    Alba slices through enemies with a one-button three-hit combo, creating a simple but satisfying dance of attacking and evading when combined with a nimble dodge roll. Landing consecutive strikes without taking damage replenishes health, a gratifying system that rewards good performance. Staying on your A-game in fights matters, as the game is more than a pretty face; Neva can be surprisingly tough. Combat encounters often lob several enemies to encourage thoughtful use of the wolf’s cooldown-based assists while you nimbly strike down foes with your sword. Boss battles require memorizing subtle enemy tells and executing split-second evades to retaliate during brief openings. I died more often than I expected during these bigger bouts, but that was always my fault and I enjoyed this demanding rise in tempo after lengthy exploration segments.  Neva’s elegant presentation and combat extends to its enjoyable puzzle-like platforming. Most riddles involve activating mysterious nodes by traversing floating, ever-shifting platforms and other obstacles. Platforming makes ample use of Alba’s air-dash, double-jump, and wall-climbing skills, and though less challenging than the combat, it still offers enough bite to remain engaging. Hidden flowers provide a nice little incentive to explore off the beaten path, not to mention another excuse to bask in the wonderful scenery.  Neva’s immaculate presentation, enjoyable action, and moving narrative prop it up among 2024’s best indies. Despite boasting thrilling cinematic sequences and jaw-dropping visuals, Neva’s best moments are often its smallest: watching a relieved Alba call her furry friend after a brutal fight to share an affectionate and appreciative embrace. This 2025 review reflects our thoughts on the game’s current state at publishing. As such, post-launch updates were factored into the final score. Score: 9 About Game Informer's review system
Mar 24
The Plucky Squire Review – Easy On The Eyes, Easier On The Mind
The Plucky Squire Review – Easy On The Eyes, Easier On The Mind Reviewed on: PC Platform: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch, PC Publisher: Devolver Digital Developer: All Possible Futures Release: September 17, 2024 Watching protagonist Jot leap from the 2D illustrated pages of his storybook into a beautifully rendered 3D world immediately sells players on The Plucky Squire’s hook. This transition between gameplay styles is an awesome mechanic that truly feels magical, making me hopeful the adventure designed around it would be equally as enchanting. Unfortunately, that’s not quite the case. The Plucky Squire has oodles of charm and imagination, but the gameplay isn’t always as engaging or inspired.  This classic Zelda-esque adventure puts you in the shoes of a cheerful swordsman joined by his two friends, a timid witch-in-training and a metalhead mountain troll, to rescue their storybook world from peril. In some humorous meta writing, the book’s villain becomes self-aware of his fictional reality and discovers how to turn his predestined cycle of endless defeats in his favor. A pleasantly sassy narrator guides players through a lighthearted tale. But despite the intriguing setup, the story winds up being more saccharine than memorable.  Within the storybook, The Plucky Squire largely unfolds like a top-down Zelda game (with occasional side-scrolling segments harkening back to Zelda II). Traveling through eye-popping, colorful overworlds and cutting down foes feels and looks good, but combat lacks challenge, making battles feel like rote exercises even after obtaining upgrades like a sword throw and spin attack. Fortunately, combat is secondary to The Plucky Squire’s main draw of letting players manipulate their pagebound world.   Exiting the book and using a magic glove to flip between pages not only serves as a clever form of backtracking, but engenders neat ideas like grabbing an object from a previous page and bringing it into the current one. I also like tilting the book to cause certain objects to slide wherever you need them to be. Changing entire scenes by swapping certain words from descriptive sentences (e.g. replacing “Forest” with “Ruins” in a sentence to transform the surroundings accordingly) is another fun idea that adds a playful, interactive take on an unreliable narrator. Overall, the puzzles built around these tricks are clever in concept, but tend to be disappointingly simple in execution. I often solve riddles at first glance, and they rarely feel as substantial as I’d like even late-game.   Leaping off the page into the fully rendered 3D bedroom of the child who owns your story is the biggest treat. Not only does the bedroom look awesome and feels believably lived in, but the transition is largely smooth from a technical standpoint. Traversing the 3D sections consists of simple, and, frankly, unremarkable, platforming segments, but it’s the way they’re dressed up that make them feel more interesting than they are. Jumping into certain illustrations pinned on objects is a cool-looking way to scale vertical surfaces, as is sliding down a rope and seeing Jot cruise down inside the multiple flags hanging on it. Unfortunately, the presentation can’t prop up the barebones stealth sections tasking you to sneak around bugs, and being spotted results in immediate death. These sequences lack the creativity of the rest of the package and feel present for the sake of it.  The Plucky Squire also sprinkles bespoke minigames that appear once and offer brief snippets of variety that I usually welcome. I appreciate the cuteness of a simplified take on a Punch-Out-style battle against an angry badger and a turn-based RPG battle against a character from a Magic: The Gathering-inspired trading card. These segments are far from robust departures and more like breezy genre change-ups to add little spice without overstaying their welcome.  Though I admire everything about The Plucky Squire’s art direction, the lax difficulty robs it of stimulating engagement. The Plucky Squire is an easy game to a fault, made more so by the annoying number of tooltips and forced tutorials plaguing the adventure. In addition to seizing control away from players too often, it holds their hand for too long. The Plucky Squire may be trying to appeal to kids, but I’d wager all but the youngest children would grow weary of these aggressive training wheels.  Thankfully, The Plucky Squire has received an optional streamlined mode shaving away the glut of these forced tutorials. It makes a noticeable difference, allowing me to enjoy the game a little more with less interruption and more room to think. Streamlined mode doesn’t make The Plucky Squire any more difficult, but consider it the new default gameplay setting and reserve the game’s original incarnation, which is still available, for only the least experienced players. Although The Plucky Squire has become better at trusting players to figure things out, it remains a disappointingly simple trek wrapped in a killer presentational wrapper. It’s one of the coolest-looking games of 2024 and has inventive ideas I wish were more substantially fleshed out. Jot’s big adventure is presented as a children’s story, and it’s hard not to feel like a kid playing it in the best and worst ways. This 2025 review reflects our thoughts on the game’s current state at publishing. As such, post-launch updates were factored into the final score. Score: 7.25 About Game Informer's review system
Mar 24
Grimoire Groves Free Download (Build 17750437)
Grimoire Groves Free Download (Build 17750437)Grimoire Groves Direct Download: Home to magical creatures and plants, the fabled Grimoire Groves should’ve been a haven for witches looking for a new home. But by the time they arrive, the forest spirits have disappeared and only a few plant creatures remain. But not all is lost. With a little hard work, investigation and […] The post Grimoire Groves Free Download (Build 17750437) first appeared on WorldofPCGames .
Mar 21
A musical trailer gives you a new look at Bylina
A musical trailer gives you a new look at BylinaFulqrum Publishing and developer Far Far Games have released new gameplay footage for their upcoming action RPG, Bylina, in a musical trailer, which you can watch below. Taking inspiration from Slavic folklore and mythology, Bylina follows Falconet, a young bogatyr who was born without a hero’s powers. Despite being overlooked by those around him, he dreams of following in his father’s footsteps as a legendary warrior. However, during what should have been a routine task, Falconet unexpectedly finds himself in the dark and mysterious Far Far Kingdom, where he meets an untimely end. Revived by a mysterious spirit that now shares his body, Falconet must undertake three significant challenges: reclaiming control over his soul, uncovering the truth behind his enigmatic companion, and confronting Koschei the Deathless to save the world from impending danger. Key Features A World of Slavic Myths – Explore diverse locations, from sunlit forests to ancient castles and shadowy dungeons, each with its own unique atmosphere, challenges, and inhabitants. Skill-Based Combat – Master a variety of techniques and spells while facing off against common foes, legendary creatures, and formidable bosses where every decision matters. Expansive Arsenal – Utilize weapons such as swords, shields, spears, and bows while embracing magical abilities to enhance combat. Level up, craft new items, and experiment with different armor types. A Story of Depth and Complexity – The world of Bylina presents a nuanced struggle between good and evil, where characters have intricate backgrounds shaped by their past experiences. Falconet’s journey is not just about defeating enemies but also confronting the emotional and psychological challenges that define what it means to be a hero. Bylina is scheduled for release on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S in 2025.
Mar 18
Forest Reigns Deep Dive Video Outlines Hazards, Factions, and Multiple Approaches
Forest Reigns Deep Dive Video Outlines Hazards, Factions, and Multiple ApproachesVG Entertainment showcases different ways to breach a hostile faction's base and leverage the living forest to turn the tables.
Mar 17
Cookie Run: Kingdom Wedding Cake Cookie Guide: How to unlock, Best Toppings, and more
Cookie Run: Kingdom Wedding Cake Cookie Guide: How to unlock, Best Toppings, and moreCookie Run: Kingdom introduced Wedding Cake Cookie which is an Epic Magic Cookie that has been released in the Version 6.2 “Match Made in Oven” update along with Black Forest Cookie. This guide will help you with how to build Wedding Cake Cookie, how to obtain her, and the ways to level her up.  How to obtain Wedding Cake Cookie in Cookie Run: Kingdom Wedding Cake … The post Cookie Run: Kingdom Wedding Cake Cookie Guide: How to unlock, Best Toppings, and more appeared first on GamingonPhone .
Mar 15
Cookie Run: Kingdom Black Forest Cookie Guide: How to unlock, Best Toppings, and more
Cookie Run: Kingdom Black Forest Cookie Guide: How to unlock, Best Toppings, and moreCookie Run: Kingdom introduced Black Forest Cookie which is an Epic Charge Cookie that has been released in the Version 6.2 “Match Made in Oven” update along with Wedding Cake Cookie. This guide will help you with how to build Black Forest Cookie, how to obtain her, and the ways to level her up.  How to obtain Black Forest Cookie in Cookie Run: Kingdom Black Forest … The post Cookie Run: Kingdom Black Forest Cookie Guide: How to unlock, Best Toppings, and more appeared first on GamingonPhone .
Mar 15
The ForestAs the lone survivor of a passenger jet crash, you find yourself in a mysterious forest battling to stay alive against a society of cannibalistic mutants. Build, explore, survive in this terrifying first person survival horror simulator.